Iwentors



(NoModel.)

I. M. .SWANK & A. G. OOSNER.

' BATHING APPARATUS.

UNITED STATES .Erica ISRAEL MARION SVANK AND ALFRED C. OOSNER, OF NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO JONAS GROSSNIOKLE, OF SAME PLACE.

BATHING APPARATUS.

SIECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 427,377, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed January 6, 1890. Serial No; 336,007. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known thatV we, ISRAEL MARION SWANK and ALFRED C. CosNER, citizensv of the United States, residing at North Manchester, in the county of lVabash, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bathing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to bath-tubs which may be folded into a cabinet when not in use or removed from one apartment or building to another; and the objects of our improvement are to produce abathing apparatus having the desired means for heating Water or for producing steam, either to heat the Water inthe bath-tub, or for producing a steam or sweat bath in said tub, or for cooking substances, and which apparatus shall be of good appearance when used either as a lounge or a bed or when inclosed in a cabinet. XVe attain these obj ects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a cabinet inclosing the bathing apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of said cabinet, showing the bathing apparatus therein, but the folding legs of the bath-tub opened out. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the fol-ding legs of the bath-tub and the locking-board thereof detached to show their construction. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bathing apparatus in position for use; and Fig..5 is a rear end view of the bathing apparatus with the tank, heater, and hose folded and the top of said tub closed and transformed into a lounge or bed.

In said drawings, A represents the frame of a cabinet of any suitable form. .In the present instance it is provided with a writingdesk A2, within which may be placed awashbowl, slop-j ar, or other articles, and above said desk a mirror A3 forms one of the panels of the cabinet. The back of said cabinet, or one-half thereof, is left open, so that the bath-tub B can easily be introduced therein and removed therefrom. Said tub is provided with casters b, so that it can easily be moved around a room.

To heat water that may be placed in the tub, the bathing apparatus is provided with a tank C, which is mounted on a metal plate D, supported on rods D2, that extend ldown to a platform B2, where they are bent parallel to said platform, and .either secured thereto as shown in Fig. 4 or have the ends of said bent portion hinged to the end of the bathtub adjacent to its bottom, as shown by dotted lines in said figure. In either case the platform B2 is hinged to the bath-tub, and is intended to be paneled or to be otherwise of good appearance to inclose the bent lower ends of the rods D2 and the hose II when said platform is turned upon its hinges b2 against the end of the tub.

To heat the Water inthe plate D of the stand is provided with a socket d, that receives the vertical tube E 0f a gasoline-burner E2, that is retained at any desired distance under the tank, as the socket d is provided with a screw d2, the end of which impinges against said tube E. The upper end of said tube carries the gasoline or oil reservoir e, the flow of Which is regulated by the cock e2 adjacent to the burner. The supporting-plate D is preferably centrally perforated to permit the iiame of the burner to impinge directly against the bottom of the tank O.

If a comparatively small quantity of hot water is desired to mix with the water that may have been placed in the tub, said hot Water may be drawn directly from the tank O through the cock c at the bottom thereof; but if a Warmer bath is desired the water in the tub can be heated by conducting the steam produced in the tank O to said tub through the flexible hose II, that has its lower end attached to the waste or discharge Vopening b3 of the tub, and its upper end removably connected with the cover C2 of the tank or with the upper portion of the latter.

If no water is lfirst placed in the tub, the

same tank and hose can be used to produce a steam or sweat bath by placing a blanket or tank O, the metall other suitable cover over the tub after the reception of the user, and allowing the steam from the tank to iiow in the bottom of the tub. If a Water-bath is used, the water there-` in can be kept from flowing out even when the hose His disconnected from the tank by having it rest upon the hook f, that is secured to the end of tub, near the top thereof, on a higher level than that reached generallyby the Water in said tub. Vhen the water is to be discharged, the free end of the hose is removed from the hook f and directed into a drain or conductor leading outside of the house; but if there is no drain convenient the main portion of the Water can be dipped out or drawn into pails. To facilitate the flow or emptying of the entire contents, the tub is provided with two pairsof legs L, hinged to the bottom thereof at Z. The transverse connecting-bar Z2 of each pair is united to the other by means of a horizontal rod Z2, hinged to the connecting-bars Z2, so that the motion given to one pair of legs in opening or closing them will be simultaneously transmitted to the other. The legs are folded against the bottom of the tub when the latteris standing up, as shown in Fig. 2, by lifting the rod Z2, (and with it the legs until they lie against said tub.) The rod is then in position to be locked or retained by means of a hook or a turn-button a2, secured to the top rail of the cabinet.

Vhen it is desired to have the legs opened out for use in supporting the tub in an elevated position, the rod Z3 is released from the turn-button a3 and pulled out to the position shown in Figffl, and the legs are locked in that position by means of a board m, having one of its edges hinged at m2 to the bottom of the tub, and its opposite edge is provided with a notch m3 to straddle the cross-bars Z2 of one of the pairs of legs. Vhen the tub is thus elevated, the platform B2 at the end thereof is supported by chain n, secured thereto and to said end of the tub.

Vhen the legs are folded, the tub can be used as a lounge by means of a padded cover P, placed thereon, and said cover can be provided With a section P2, hinged to its side and provided with legs p2, to support the outer side of said section and transform it into a bed. lVhen not used upon the tub, said cover and section can be stored away in the recess A, formed in the back of the cabinet.

It is evident that in place of the rubber hose II jointed pipes of other material may be used to connect the tank to the tub. It is also evident that as the distance from the burner E2 to the tank C can be regulated, and also the amount of burning-fluid led to the burner through the cock e2, the production of hot Water or steam in the tank can be regulated to suit the bather. The bath-tub can be so handled, when it is to be used, that its heat-producing tank and burner can remain Within the cabinet even while the Water therein is being heated.

Having now fully described our invention, We claiml. In combination with a cabinet having an open back and a turn-button or its described equivalent, a bath-tub having legs hinged to the bottom thereof and a rod connecting them, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a bath-tub, a platform B2, hinged to one end thereof, vertical rods D2, and a plate secured on top of said rods, and a tank upon said plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of a bath-tub, a platform B2, hinged to one end thereof, rods D2, secured to said hinged platform, a plate secured on top of said rods, a tank upon said plate, and a hose uniting said tank to the tub,

substantially as described.

form hinged to one end thereof, rods D2, a plate D, secured to said rods, a tube secured to said plate, and a burner on one end of said tube, substantially as described.

5. rlhe combination of a bath-tub, a hose attached to one end of said tub, a hook f, proj ecting from said end to receive said hose, and a platform hingedA to the end of the tub and adapted to inclose said hose and hook, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

ISRAEL MARION SVANK.

ALFRED C. COSNER. NVitnesses:

Scor'r DUNBAR, JoNAs GRossNroKLE. 

